Lord Darnell- Riggle (PA) 1943 Bayard/Korson
[From Pennsylvania Songs and Legends; Korson, 1949. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
Probably no English ballad remaining alive in this country can excel the drama of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard. The version that I give here represent, the way in which this stirring old song was known in Greene County over sixty years ago.
Lord Darnell- (Sung by Amos Riggle near Claysville, Washington County, 1943; recorded by Samuel P. Bayard.)
1. I walked out one hallow day,
The best day in the year.
I walked down to yonders church
The holy word to hear,
Oh, the holy word to hear.
2. Some come from the broad waterside,
And some come from the hall;
In len'th in came Lord Darnell's wife,
The fairest of them all,
Oh, the fairest of them all.
3. She look-ed high and she look-ed low,
She look-ed high and low;
In len'th she spied little Mathy Grove,
And on him she fixed her eye, (etc.)
4. You must go home with me this night,
You must go with me, she says,
For of all the men that is living be,
You are my heart's delight.
5. I cannot go nor I will not go,
No, not for my sweet life,
For by the ring that is on your hand
You are Lord Darnell's wife.
6. Well, if Lord Darnell's wife I am,
Lord Darnell's wife I be;
Lord Darnell himself to the castle is gone
King Henry for to see.
7. The little foot-page a-hearing this,
He clapt to his heels and he run;
He run till he come to the broad waterside;
There he bowed his breast and he swum.
8. He swum till he come to the other side,
Where there Lord. Darnell he sees:
Bad news, bad news, I bring to thee,
Bad news I bring to thee,
Little Mathy Grove is at thy house,
In bed with the gay ladie.
9. If this be the truth that you do tell,
Rewarded you shall be,
But if it be a lie that you tell to me,
You shall hang on the gallows tree.
10. He took his men at his command,
He placed them in a row;
He bid them nor a word to speak,
Nor not a horn to blow.
11. There was one amongst the rest
Who thought well of little Mathy Grove;
He placed his horn up to his mouth
And he blew both loud and shrill.
12. I must git up, said little Mathy Grove,
And in haste, and I must go,
For if Lord Darnell living be,
I heard his horn to blow.
13. Oh no, my dear, lie still, she says,
To keep me free from cold:
For it's nothing but my father's shepherd boy,
He's driving the sheep to fold.
14. So still they lie in sport and play
Till they both fell asleep.
Who was so ready to wake them up?
Was Lord Darnell, at their feet!
15. How do you like my bed, he says,
Or how do you like my sheets?
Or how do you like my gay ladie
Thar lies in your arms asleep?
16. It's well I like your bed, he says,
And better I like your sheets,
But woe be to your gay ladie
That lies in my arms asleep!
17. You must get up, says Lord Darnell,
And put your clothing on,
For it never shall be said when I am dead
That I slew a naked man.
18. Must I get up, says little Mathy Grove,
And fight for my sweet life,
While you have got your two good swords,
And I have nary knife?
19. Well, if I have got two good swords,
They cost me deep in purse;
I'll give to you the best of them,
And I will take the worst.
20. And you may strike the first good blow,
And I will strike the other;
I could not do no more for You
If you was my own brother.
21. Little Mathy struck the first good blow-
He wound Lord Darnell sore;
Lord Darnell struck the next good blow-
Poor Mathy could do no more.
22. He took his lady on his knee,
He gave her kisses three,
Saying, Which do You like the best,
Little Mathy Grove or me?
21. It's well I like your cheeks, she says,
And better I like Your chin,
But I would not give little Mathy Grove
For you and all your kin!
24. He took his lady by the hand,
He led her o'er the plains;
He did not speak but a word or two
Till he split her head in twain.
25. It's sweet-lye sings the nightingale,
And sweet-lye sings the sparrow;
Lord Darnell killed his wife today,
And he'll be hung tomorrow.